CAR: Rebel attack reported in Besson (Nana-Mambéré prefecture) June 21

Event

Suspected Return, Complaint, and Rehabilitation (3R) rebels ambushed a joint Central African Armed Forces (FACA) and UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) patrol outside Besson in the Nana-Mambéré prefecture on Sunday evening (local time), June 21. At least two soldiers and a police officer were reportedly killed by the rebels during the ambush. The incident comes amid a FACA and MINUSCA operation launched on Wednesday, June 17, targeting 3R positions in the Nana-Mambéré and Ouham-Péndé préfectures, following a recent rise in rebel attacks in the region.

Further rebel attacks and associated security operations are likely in Nana-Mambéré and Ouham-Pende in the medium term.

Context

The Central African Republic (CAR) has suffered recurrent bouts of civil conflict since December 2012, which has led to hundreds of deaths and almost 700,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs), and has pushed more than 500,000 people to seek refuge in neighboring Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Chad. Although a peace agreement between armed groups and the government was signed in February 2019, clashes between various armed groups continue to be reported.

Advice

Those present in the CAR are advised to monitor developments, maintain a high degree of situational awareness, and remain vigilant for potential rebel activity in their own area of operations.

A number of Western governments advise their citizens against travel to most of the east of the country for various security reasons, including the presence of armed groups.